Houseplant Encyclopedia

A houseplant characterized by large violin-shaped leaves. Very popular as an interior statement tree.

An epiphytic Hoya with thick, obovate leaves that are broad and rounded at the tip, the source of its name. Variegated plants are also sold as houseplants.

A rhizomatous begonia whose puckered green leaves bear a dark brown cross-shaped mark in the centre. The leaf surface is textured and covered in reddish hairs. It is native to southern China and northern Vietnam.

A staghorn fern with tall, deeply lobed shield fronds that leave a lace of veins as they dry. Long, narrow fertile fronds covered in white hairs hang down in contrast to the brown shields.

An evergreen shrub in the ivy family whose finely cut leaflets are arranged in thrice-pinnate leaves, giving a delicate, fern-like look. It is sold as a shaped indoor pot plant with an Asian feel.

A small trailing Hoya with little lance-shaped leaves and fragrant clusters of white star-shaped flowers with purple centres. Variegated plants are sold in Japan as 'Seven Star'.

A Bornean Alocasia with peltate leaves showing a coppery metallic sheen and ridged veins. The undersides are deep purple, and the copper colour is strongest on young leaves. It is also sold as 'Red Secret'.

A variegated form of Monstera deliciosa whose large, split and perforated leaves are irregularly marked with white. The amount and pattern of variegation changes from leaf to leaf.

A philodendron with long, narrow arrow-shaped leaves on striking orange-yellow petioles. The leaf margins are wavy and the leaves lengthen as the plant matures.

The 'pinstripe' calathea: dark green leaves lined with fine pale pink or white stripes and purplish undersides. The leaves fold up at night. It is native to Colombia and Venezuela.

A stylish begonia with white polka dots on dark green leaves. Beautiful contrast with red leaf undersides.

A group of rhizomatous hybrid begonias grown for leaves patterned in silver, red, purple and green. Over 500 cultivars descend from Begonia rex, varying widely in leaf shape and colour.

A large staghorn fern with shield fronds over 60 cm across and long, pendulous fertile fronds usually in pairs. Spores form in a single large patch at the first fork.